Press Release

U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $1.5 Million to Support Workforce Development in North Carolina

Contact: Public Affairs Department, (202) 482-4085
Wednesday, August 27, 2014

WASHINGTON – U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker announced today that the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $1.5 million grant to Alexander County, North Carolina, to help create workforce skills labs on the Catawba Valley Community College Satellite Campus. According to the grantee, the grant will support the creation of 226 jobs and generate $2.5 million in private investment the coming years.

“The Obama Administration and Commerce Department are committed to supporting a talented and skilled workforce for today’s 21st century jobs,” said Secretary Pritzker. “The EDA grant announced today will help Alexander County support regional workforce training efforts in advanced manufacturing technologies that will help meet the needs of local employers.”

According to the grantee, the region has experienced significant job and population loss in recent years. EDA’s investment will renovate the Alexander Applied Technologies Building located on the Catawba Valley Community College Satellite Campus in Alexander County. The renovation will assist with the development of a public-private partnership in the areas of advanced manufacturing technologies, including state-of-the-art welding and metallurgy training, as well as advanced technology upholstery, cutting and sewing. The labs created through this investment directly tie to industry needs and will help prepare the regional workforce to gain skills required by employers. The grantee estimates that this investment will provide regional employers with access to a trained workforce necessary to meet their operational needs.

About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov)
The mission of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation's regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA makes investments in economically distressed communities in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.